My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

"Nice to meet you, welcome aboard the airship. It's been a while, Ringa."

When we arrived at the rendezvous point we’d agreed on before departure, the airship—rendered invisible by Noah’s magic—was already there.

We’d gotten used to it over the past few days, but for Ringa and the others who were boarding for the first time, they cautiously stepped onto a ship they couldn’t see. The hero and Kyousuke, who had come along to make sure I didn’t decide things on my own, each helped Ringa and Sena aboard, while Sonora—perhaps because she’s of the Demon Clan—seemed to be able to sense the ship’s outline and followed Lattice Nail on without trouble.

When we set foot on the deck, Amelia, who had been keeping watch, greeted us with a smile. Sena and Sonora froze in place, mouths agape at Amelia’s overwhelming beauty.

I hadn’t seen that reaction in a while. Back when we were walking around the Beastmen territory, Amelia’s face used to cause minor accidents—people literally bumping into each other—more than once.

"Long time no see, Princess Amelia. These are my younger brother Sena and my younger sister Sonora. We’ll be in your care for a while."

Ringa introduced the two frozen siblings with a pat on their backs. As expected from a guild master, she handled things smoothly.

Amelia widened her eyes slightly when she saw Sonora’s magical power capacity, but as a princess she was skilled at hiding any surprise or discomfort.

"Yes, nice to meet you both. Sena and Sonora."

"Y-yes, nice to meet you!"

After introducing Ringa and the others to everyone at the lunch table, we discussed how we’d move forward after the meal.

"At least the non-combat professions should stay on the ship and be ready in case we need to depart in an emergency."

Noah murmured, and everyone nodded.

The people from Morte whom we’d saved yesterday weren’t going to recover overnight. They were still asleep from the sedative Amaryllis concocted and Amelia’s "compulsory sleep" spell. When I’d been put under it before, I woke up after half a day because I was sleep-deprived, but when it’s a matter of mental recovery even Amelia didn’t know how long it would take.

"Hey, you know Sonora is staying behind to keep watch, right?"

"What! Why, Sena-ani-sama?!"

"Of course! Hey, Ringa, say something to this idiot."

Sena said with a wry smile to the eager-to-fight Sonora. Sonora gaped and fell silent, then hurried over to Sena in a flustered panic.

Sonora had sounded stiff when we first met, but when she talked with Ringa and Sena she relaxed nicely. She’d been different when we spoke underground, so it was strange to see her look like a girl our age—or even younger—around her siblings. I’d seen her chatting happily with Amelia and Hosoyama while everyone prepared the meal, so there was no real worry.

Eldest brother Ringa watched the two younger ones playing like a guardian. Well, she probably was their guardian. I didn’t know their exact age difference, but Ringa must have raised them.

"As for me and Yoru, we’ll head to the Demon King's Castle tomorrow."

I muttered, lost in thought, and the lively conversation abruptly stopped. I noticed all eyes on me and realized the words I’d been thinking had slipped out. When I was alone in the Cantinen Labyrinth, talking to myself had become a habit; I needed to stop blurted thoughts from escaping like that.

Amelia stepped closer after hearing my words, but I shook my head to stop her.

"Akira, I—"

"No. Amelia, I want you to stay with the people we saved at Morte. We’ll go to the Demon King’s Castle by ourselves."

"…I understand."

I had planned to tell only Noah quietly and leave, but my absent-mindedness had spoiled that. I didn’t notice Amelia’s slight frown as she left the room.

'But Master, wouldn’t it be better to go with a few others just in case?'

"I’m going with Shou. Even if you object."

Kyousuke reacted to Yoru’s words immediately.

Yoru clicked his tongue, looking like he had bitten into something bitter. For reasons I didn’t understand, Yoru and Kyousuke didn’t get along; they seemed to view each other as rivals. I remembered a few who disliked Kyousuke’s bluntness, but this kind of sparking rivalry when they met face-to-face was new.